Combination vent and closure for cans



Feb. 2 2, 1927.

C. W. BASSETT COMBINATION VENT AND CLOSURE FOR CANS Filed A1121. 26, 1925 Patented Feb. 22,l937.

sae T OF-FICE- I onARLEsw. BAssE'r'r, or ALA-MEDA, CALIFORNIA.

g COMBINATION VENT AND oizosrunn "FOR CANS.

Application filed August 26, 1925(Seria1 No. 52,591.

This invention relates to receptacle stoppers and has for its primary object the provision of a device of this character which will be exceedingly useful as a combined ventmeans and closure for vesselsor receptacles .of various well known types; one

' which is capable of adjustment to securely seal the opening when desired; one which,

. when'it is intended to pour the contents from the receptacle, can be quickly adjusted to a second position where the vent opening will be uncovered to permit the atmospheric air to take the place of theevacuated contents and thereby induce free or uninterrupted pouring of said contents, and one, which when adjusted to said second position will be positively. held against accidental displacement from the receptacle. 7

My i'nventlon 1s designed particularly for usein connection with cans or receptaciesof the 'class employed in the sale of evaporated milk, cream, olive oil, various salad oils and 'theflike wherein it is customary to punch holes in one head of the can,.one near one edge of the crown and the other near the opposite edge thereof, so that the former canbe used as a vent and the latter for disaensin or dischar in the contents from b h D the can, and a further object of the inven tion is to provide a device of this character consisting of a single piece of material having stopper portions joined together by a weakened line that will permit these portions to be broken apart or severed one from theother when it is intended to put them to the uses aforementioned. v

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide. device of thisch'a'racter which is simple of construction, positive of opera which can be turned out by means of a suitable lathe or which can be molded, as choice may be found most expedient.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the natureof the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangements of parts which will hereinafter be fully described and particularly tion,'inexpe1 1s1ve of'manufacture, and one.

fications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

Figure 1 is'a perspective view of a can showing the manner of using my device when pouring the contents from the can.

Figure'Q, is a vertical section through the can showing both stoppers in sealed engagement with their respective openings. I

Figure 3 is a section through a portion of the can showing the vented stopper in a position to uncover the vent opening. i Figure 4 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the device before the stopper portionsthereof are separated, and

Figure 5 is ajview similar to Figure 4;,-

illustrating a slightly' nodified form of the invention.

I On reference to Figure felt will beiob served that my invention consists as 7 an article per -se of a single piece of material 6 struct the invention of non-metallic material.

'The body or piece of. single material 6 may be turned out on a lathe, molded or produced.in any well known commercial manner so as to provide a stopper 7 and a stopper 8, the latter joined to theformer axiallythereof by a reduced or weakened joinder 9, so characterized that the stoppers 7 and S are relatively, rigid normallyQ-but capable of beingbrokenapart when the two stoppers are held in the hands of the operator and lateral pressure forced there against, at or near the joinder 9. Each of these stoppers is cork-shaped or flared, so that the reduced end is lowermost. 1

The stopper 8 is formed at its-reduced end with a substantially truncated portion '10,

which is considerably smaller at its horizontal center thaan at any other point. Terminally this portion 10 is joined to a spur 11 which extends to a sharp point. This spur may be cemented or otherwise suitablyv secured to said portion 10.

The device as shown in Figured may be sold as a part of the-milk can, it may be given away as an advertisement, or it may be sold in the open market as a stopper per so. hen it is desired to use same parts 7 and 8 are broken away from each other at the line 9. However, before this is done, the entire device may! be used as a punch, the barb or spur 11 being placed point-end against the crown A of the can B nearone edge of the crown so that both stoppers 7 and 8 are vertically disposed. The large end 12 of the stopper 7 may now be struck with a mallet or suitable tool so as to drive the barb 11 through the crown and thereby produce a vent opening C. The device is then shifted to the opposite edge of the crown and the operation repeated to thereby produce a pouring opening 1). The body 6 is now ready to be severed and it is found that the openings C and l) are of diameters capable of co-acting with the diameters of the respective stoppers 7 and 8, and that these stoppers can be driven into these respective openings to securely seal them. The diameter of the openings C and D is each slightly less than the diameter of the barb or spur 11, where it joins the portion 10, so that when the stopper 8 is driven into its opening the resiliency of the Walls of the opening will permit the large end of the barbto pass through said opening, While serving to prevent accidental displacement of the stopper therefrom during the opera tion of venting the can.

\Vhen it is desired to pour the contents from the can, the stopper 7 is removed from its opening B. The stopper 8 is drawn in an upper direction so that the truncated portion 10 projects into the opening C with the large end of the barb 11 directly at the back of the opening. The can is then tipped at an angle to elfect pouring of its contents through the opening D, and as a result of this tipping, the stopper 8 gravitates to a downward angular position where it suiticiently uncovers the opening C *to permit atmospheric air to enter the can.

In Figure 5 a somewhat modified form of my invention is illustrated. In this form I employ stoppers 13 and let respectively precisely the same as stoppers 7 and 8 and normally joined together in the same manner.

The stopper M is also very similar to the stopper tS, but in lieu of the barb 11 the truncated portion 15 is formed with an engaged flare projection 16, which serves as a stop to hold the stopper 8 from accidental displacement from its opening during the venting operation. I have described that the entire device may be constructed of wood or suitable materials, and it may be well to include therein material such as cork.

I claim y 1. The combination of a can having an outlet opening and a vent opening in an end thereof, with a tapered plug in the outlet opening and a second taiercd plug in the vent opening, said second plug comprising two tapered sections joined by a reduced section, the lower of said tapered sections being adapted to puncture the can, both of said plugs tightly stopping the respective openings, the reduced portion betiveenthe sections of the Seams-1 block being normally below the top of the can.

2. The combination of aflcan having an outlet opening and a vent opening in an end thereof, with ataperedplu in the outlet opening anda second tapered plug in the vent opening,.said second plug comprising two tapered sections joined by areduced section, the lower of said tapered sections being adapted to puncturethe can both of said plugs tightly stopping the respective openings and extending sufficiently above the end of the can to begrasped by the lingers. the reduced portion between the sect-ions of the second block being normally below the top of the can.

A. puncturing and plugging devicefor cans comprising a rigid body of three sections substantially in axial alignment with reduced portions between the sections, the lowermost section being adapted to puncture a can, the uppermost and iniddlesections being tapered and the uppermost section being separable from the middle section at the reduced portion betweenthem.

4. The combination described in claim 3 wherein the lowermost section is tapered.

CHARLES W. BASSETT. 

